Summer 2014

The following represents an assessment of the weather experienced across the UK during Summer 2014 (June, July and August) and how it compares with the 1981 to 2010 average.

Summer 2014 saw several spells of fine, settled weather in both June and July but no major heat-waves. However August was rather more unsettled and cooler with very heavy rainfall at times. The remnants of ex-Hurricane Bertha passed over the UK on 10th August and resulted in some significant disruption from flooding and fallen trees, particularly in parts of north-east Scotland. A warm and dry June and July and a cool and wet August resulted in overall summer statistics that are reasonably close to average, with the exception of north-east Scotland which was notably wet.

The UK mean temperature for summer 2014 was 14.8 °C which is 0.5 °C above the 1981-2010 average - although it was not as warm as summer 2013. June and July were both warmer than average, but it was the coolest August since 1993, the first colder than average month for the UK since November 2013.

Rainfall totals for the summer were slightly below average for Wales, parts of northern England and south west Scotland, but above average across much of southern England and particularly parts of north and east Scotland. Overall the UK had 107% of average summer rainfall. June and July were generally dry months for many, although heavy summer downpours resulted in totals well above average for parts of East Anglia in July. However, August was wet for most with some localised parts of England and much of northern Scotland receiving more than twice the average rain for the month. It was the wettest August on record for northern Scotland in a series from 1910.

It was a relatively sunny summer with 113 % of average sunshine hours, comparable to summer 2013. June was a sunny month in southern and western areas but rather dull in the far north, whereas July was sunnier than average across the UK. August sunshine totals were near average.

UK statistical summary

UK statistical summary

Mean temperature

Rainfall

Sunshine

The mean value is 14.8 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the 1981-2010 average.